Openers Kraigg Brathwaite (182) and Tagenarine Chanderpaul (207 not out) added 336 runs for the first wicket as the Caribbeans posted 447/6 declared in their first innings against Zimbabwe at the Queens Sports Club here, setting a new record for the Caribbeans.
Tagenarine Chanderpaul completed his double century in 465 balls, hitting 16 fours and three sixes. He and skipper Brathwaite have put West Indies in command of a Test that has been marred by rain from the start.
They broke the previous record of 298 runs for the opening wicket held by Gordan Greenidge and Desmond Haynes in 1990.
The West Indies' dominance was cemented further when they restricted Zimbabwe to 114/3 in their first innings. Zimbabwe's chances were maintained when Innocent Kala scored an unbeaten 59 off 115 deliveries, keeping the hosts' hopes alive. However, the
The new West Indies opening pair came to the fore at Bulawayo after a number of valiant stands during the difficult tour of Australia. The rain breaks had little effect on the duo's concentration as they heaped misery on Zimbabwe bowlers.
Brathwaite led the team in run-scoring with 182 runs, while Chanderpaul contributed 148 to the total. This performance bodes well for West Indies Test batting in the future.
Tagenarine became the 10th West Indian player to convert his maiden Test century into a double century. He also shared a double century in Test cricket with his father Shivnarine.
Despite losing 99 overs to rain in this Test, West Indies had only 221 runs in the first two days and needed to score quickly to set themselves up for a big score. Only Kyle Mayers lasted 24 balls for 20 runs after Brathwaite was removed. As Zimbabwe slowed the West Indies' progress, Brandon Mavuta claimed his first five-wicket haul for 5-140.
In Zimbabwe's first innings, Kaia and Tanunurwa Makoni put on a solid 63-run opening stand before Alzarri Joseph gave West Indies the first breakthrough and Gudakesh Motie had Chamu Chibhabha caught behind for his maiden Test wicket.
Kaia went on to hit a fifty on his Test debut, and he and Craig Ervine looked set to lead Zimbabwe to victory, but Brathwaite came in to bowl and castled his counterpart as West Indies finished the day strongly.
West Indies 447/6d in 143 overs (Kraigg Brathwaite 182, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 207 not out; Brandon Mavuta 5-140) v Zimbabwe 114/3 in 41.4 overs (Innocent Kala batting 59, Tanunurwa Makoni 33; Alzarri Joseph1-250.